James Dowling
Agency patch
Patrolman

James Dowling

Accident
End of Watch December 24, 1935
Age 61
Tour of Duty 31 yrs 6 mo
Badge 2538
The Vigil Panel 71 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman James Dowling was struck and killed by a vehicle while on his post. Patrolman Dowling was walking his post on 1st Avenue near 119th Street when he was struck and killed by a delivery truck. The driver fled the scene but turned himself in later that night. Patrolman Dowling had served with the New York City Police Department for 31 and a half years, assigned to the 25th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, Anne, and his sons, James Jr.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmtknp4ft8tmq53vhd5k
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

31 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Dowling gave the New York City Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dowling.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1935
Tour of Duty 31 yrs 6 mo
Age 61
Badge Number 2538
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 61. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 31.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman James Dowling

New York City Police Department · End of Watch December 24, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-W

↑